Don't tell me you hate exercise

I am stealing this from another web site, one that they made me sign up for as part of a "wellness" program at work. I tried telling them I already do this stuff and I should just get the credit for it, but they never listen. Anyway, I've heard from a number of folk that they just can't get into exercising. See, a lotta peeps seem to equate "exercise" with visiting the gym or the track and exerting yourself heavily, sweating, having to wear gym clothes, pump iron, etc.

All of that is true -- I mean, going to a gym or running through your neighborhood or on a track, or some focused, purposeful strenuous activity is exercise and can be good for you to do and maybe is the bestest and quickest way to get fit and healthy and lose weight and all that stuff, but it isn't the only kind of exercise.

This article actually talks about what you're already doing that qualifies as exercise.

Does the thought of exercising make you wince and reach for the remote control? Then it may surprise you to learn that you're already working out aerobically every day. Whenever you walk or move about -- no matter how slowly -- your muscles immediately start working harder, boosting your heart rate and burning extra calories. "How can I be exercising, if I'm not out of breath?" you protest. Well, aerobic exercise includes any activity that works large muscle groups and increases your respiration and heart rate. While the benefits of rigorous exercise may be greater, you don't need to be panting for breath to improve your health.

Now that you know you've been exercising all along, it's time to start measuring exactly what your current activity level is:

Keeping Track Start by keeping track of all the walking you do each day, including:

* Going to and from your car * Strolling through stores and malls * Walking around your office * Heading from the office to lunch and back * Walking the dog * Rambling around your house

You can gauge this daily activity in minutes, using a wristwatch, or you can buy an electronic pedometer and record the number of steps you take. Also, you can note these activities in your Exercise Journal.

Around the House Give yourself double credit for every flight of stairs you climb. This boosts your heart rate substantially more than walking on flat terrain. Include in your exercise total any chores that require you to be on your feet -- including housecleaning, yard work, and puttering around the garage or kitchen.

Fun Counts! Finally, count all time spent moving about in recreational activities such as tennis, bike riding, swimming or golf (count only the time spent walking the course). When you add up all this activity, you might discover that you already have the foundation for an aerobic program in place!

Next Steps? The ideal amount of exercise recommended for optimal health is 30 minutes or 10,000 steps per day. To do this, many people are able to reach these amounts by simply building on what they're already doing. Here are a few ways people can give their activity a boost:

* Walking around the block a few times going to and from lunch * Parking the car a little further away from a destination * Stretching out a bike ride or tennis game by a few minutes * Getting off the elevator several flights early and walking the rest of the way * Raking the yard or cleaning the house instead of hiring someone * Walking over to a colleague's desk rather than calling or IMing

Exercise opportunities are everywhere -- once you realize that every step counts.

So now you know.